Automatic car loading conveyer system



April 28, 1953 w. E. sAxE 2,635,622

AUTOMATIC CAR LOADING CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Aug. 18, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ap "2s, 1953 w.`E. sAxE- AUTOMATIC CAR LOADING coNvEYER SYSTEM 3 sheets-sheet Filed Aug. 18, 1947 April 2s, 1953 w. E. sAxE 2,636,622

y AUTOMATIC CAR LOADING CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Aug. 18, 1947 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mu TER t'. SME 4BY hlsArrom/fxs #4m/s lic/f, srf@ @HAR/ws'. 3f y Patented Apr. 28, 1953 AUTOMATIC CAR LOADING CONVEYER SYSTEM Walter E. Saxe, San Gabriel, Calif., assigner to` 'Elie Conveyor Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a

corporation of California Application August 18, 1947, Serial No. 769,175'

' This invention relates to apparatus for loading crates and similar packages into railroad cars.

A principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the indicated nature which may be operated continuously and will automatically and selectively discharge crates and the like from an advancing conveyor moving past several freight cars.

\ A further object of the invention is to provide electrically controlled apparatus through the medium of which an operator may select a car into which any given crate or package is to be discharged, it being necessary merely to push a selected circuit controlling button in order to produce the desired effect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure in which a crate or similar package travelling on a conveyor will itself cooperate in effecting discharge of the respective package or crate into the freight car for which it is intended, and an incidental object is to rely upon the crate or other package to `control the setting up of selective mechanism through which the crate is eventually discharged into the respective car.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view illustrating somewhat diagrammatically the arrangement of conveyor mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention, such mechanism being shown in operative relation to a plurality of freight cars to bc loaded;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustrating somewhat diagrammatically the arrangement shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of selector-wheel apparatus Aused for selecting the respective stations and through which automatic ejection at the respective stations is effect-ed, the view being taken from the line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken from the line fl--ll of Fig. l, and showing intermittently operating automatic tripping mechanism through which selector means on the respective selector-Wheels are actuated;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, corresponding with a portion of Fig. fi and illustrating a succeeding step in the operation;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken approximately from the line E- of Fig. i and illustrating also a later stage of operation beyond that indicated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation similar to that of Fig. 4 and showing a slightly modi-lied form of construction;

9 Claims. (Cl. 214-11) Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3 and showing on an enlarged scale the construction of the selector-wheels and associated selecting mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-section through the conveyor and its support, adjacent one of the stations, and illustrating 'the means for ejeoting a package at the respective station;

Fig. 10 is an elevationof the face of the switch box carrying the push buttons and illustrating means for retaining the respective buttons in depressed condition When it is desired to unload all of a considerable quantity of crates or packages being handled into a given freight car; and

Fig. 1l is a Wiring diagram of circuits which may be employed to effect control through the mechanism illustrated.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a string of railroad freight cars l5 is spotted on rails I6 alongside a loading dock il at the opposite .side of Which an elongated continuously operating conveyor structure, generally indicated at I8, is disposed, the conveyor structure being carried. upon appropriateV supporting standards I9 (Fig. fi). Located at appropriately spaced points along the conveyor structure IB, to correspond with the spacing of the freight cars l5, is a plurality of discharge devices or ejectors generally indicated at 2) and adapted for pushing olf crates or other packages from the conveyor structure i6 onto laterally extending conventional discharge conveyors 2| adapted to enterdoorways Ita of the respective freight cars l5. These electors 2Q; which are fully disclosed in Fig. 9, are located along the conveyor structure at such distances as desired to conform with the spotting of the freight cars l5, the control mechanism employed being adapted to be adjusted in accordance with the car spacing,

At the forward end of the conveyor structure I8, which is the right end as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a lateral feed conveyor I8a is provided, and adjacent supporting standards IS on the near side of the structure carry an elongated upstanding panel 24 upon the outer face of which there is positioneda plurality of toothed selectorwheels 25 and associated actuating and setting mechanism. The number of selector-wheels 25 Will conform with the maximum number of cars to be loaded at any one time, and these selectorwheels will be advanced step by step as a unit by means of a cam 26 (Fig. 3) and other mechanism presently to be described. On the front end of the conveyor structure a plurality of push buttons 21 is provided in a switch box 28, there the frame 3| are provided with overhanging nose pieces 56a against which the fingers 55 engage as the side members 45 are elevated by the bell cranks 42, 44.

The object of the vertical movement downward of the frame 3i, when its upper end is engaged by a crate C, is to actuate electric circuitmaking and breaking devices for energizing and denergizing the various circuits which are employed in the system, and are hereinafter to be described, so that electrically controlled devices may operate as required. Therefore, the lower end of one of the side members of the frame 3i is caused to engage and operate successively an upper switch arm B2 and a lowerswitch arm 63, Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 11. As indicated in Fig. 6, the two switch arms 62 and 83 may be pivoted at 54. As the lower end of the mentioned member of the frame 3l moves downward it first strikes the projecting end of the switch arm 62, thereby moving a slidable contact 85, which normally is in open position, such movement thereby closing the circuit through a lead 55a. On continued movement, the lower end of the mentioned member of the frame 3l engages and depresses a projecting end of the switch arm 63, thereby withdrawing a contact E58 on` its opposite end from circuit closing engagement with a lead 66a. Thus, downward movement of the frame 3| first causes the switch arm 52 to actuate the contact 65, which will sometimes be referred to herein as a switch to complete a` circuit, and then actuate the switch arm 53 to move the contact 6E, which will sometimes be referred to `herein as a switch 55, to break a circuit. 'f

When the operator receives the crate C or other package from the feed conveyor lila and determines the respective car l5 into which it is to be loaded, he presses the respective push button 21 as he transfers the crate to the conveyor I8. Actuation of the push button 21 in turn causes actuation of a relay 88 for the respective button (Fig. 1l), a setting solenoid 59 for the respective circuit (Figs. 3 and 11) being thereby energized and causing movement of a respective contactor bar 10 (Fig. l1). The bar 10 serves to close a circuit leading by way of a contact 10a through the normally closed circuitbreaking switch 86. The bar 10 also serves to close a contact 18h in a circuit to a respective solenoid 12 (Figs. 8 and l1) for the respective selector-wheel 25 which has a circular series of actuating pins 14. The solenoid circuit is subsequently completed upon closing of the switch 65 by a downward excursion of the frame 3i, thereby energizing the solenoid. Such energication of the respective solenoid 12 causes an adjacent actuating pin 14 in the respective selectorwheel 25, which pin 'i4 in the construction shown is at the top of the selector-wheel, to be projected as indicated in Fig. 8, so that it will actuate the respective adjustable switch 29 previously mentioned, such actuation of the switch 29 subsequently occurring when the respectiveselector-wheel 25 is advanced step by step to the position of such adjustable switch 29. When such pin 14, thus set by being projected so that its path of travel will bring it into position to actuate the switch 28, eventually moves the respective switch 29, a circuit is thereby closed which energizes a respective solenoid (Figs. 9 and ll.) which in turn actuates a respective air valve 15 to supply `actuating pressure to the respective crate ejector 20.

The setting and actuating mechanisms just described function in the following manner. Each solenoid 12 has a core 80 attached to a pin setting arm 82 (Fig. 8) lwhich is pivoted at 83 upon a bracket 84 carried by the housing of the solenoid 12. The solenoids 12 are mounted upon the forward face of the same panel 24 which carries the selector-wheels 25, the wheels 25 being journaled upon axles 85 in bosses 86 or other suitable mountings which are rigidly secured to the panel 24. Each selector-wheel is provided with a hub 8B working against a friction brake 88 on its boss 85, and through which hub the axle 85 extends, the hub 88 being engaged and retained by a head 90 adjustably fixed upon the outer end of the axle 85 in any appropriate manner, such as by means of an overhanging annulus 8| bound against the corresponding shoulder on the end of the axle 85, an appropriate nut 92 being employed as means to retain the head 98 in its bound position. Such head 90 carries one of the previously mentioned adjustable switches 25 adapted to be actuated by the pins 14 which are projected into position to trip the switch 29. To effect tripping, such switch 29 has a plunger 54 carried in the housing of the switch 25 and projecting therefrom under the influence of springs (not shown) or other means which will yield as a respective pin 14 comes into engagement with a roller carried on the outer end of the plunger 94 and serving as a contacting means.

As illustrated, a multiplicity of the pins 14 are disposed about each of the selector-wheels 25, and wall portions of these pins are frictionally engaged as by an endless coil spring 95 seated in a groove produced by an annular flange 98 lying at the corresponding peripheral portions of such selector-wheel 25. Thus, the friction producing spring 85 holds the pins 14 in either their retracted or extended positions.

The spacing between the pins 14 about each selector-wheel 25 corresponds to any desired given unit of distance, for example ten feet, and` each switch 29, with its mounting head 90, is set for multiples of such unit of distance (as calculated from the top position where the pins 14 are set by the respective solenoid 12), so as to correspond with the position of the respective car I5 into which crates or other packages are to be loaded. Thus, a crate or other package having moved iive units of distance when it is controlled by the selector-wheel 25 and the switch 25 shown at the right of Fig. 3, will be caused to be ejected through the controlling action of the corresponding set pin 14. If several such crates or packages are to be successively loaded into the same car, several pins'lli successively arranged on the` respective selector-wheel 25 will have been set. Similarly, when other crates or other packages controlled by the selector-wheel 25 and the switch 25 shown at the left of Fig. 3 have moved through ten units of space from the starting point, they will be unloaded into a second car i5. Should a large number of successive crates be destined for a given car, the respective button 81 may be locked in depressed position by a corresponding swinging latch 99 carried on the switch box 28 (Fig. l0). As best seen in Figs. 3 and 8 eachselector-wheel 25 is provided with a peripheral series of ratchet teeth |08 lying beyond the locus of the pins 14, and these teeth Iii!) `provide means for advancing each selectorwheel 25 step by step with the rotation of the cam 26 which is. driven by the shaft ,39, Such` step; by;stepfarotation; of; the -zSeleetere-avviieelsiy 25 is: effected; byI rneansl.l ofi doge; lili pivotallvl mounted 'onipivoteV l e2 'l at thesdes of.;a.pull rod tilt., slidable in `apprmoriate guidesv me. and pofriodically' advanced by' thefacam, it@ through y themeans-ofr'a `rocker: arrnzl l pivot at i ill en ;:tliepanel"2t,.the=lcwer encliothe arm lticarryine' a.l;w:arine;` roller;v HES" adapted to-.beengaged by. the cam; 2t andattacli'ed at its upper,'.endptl'lrou.gh; a: pvot. li lzto the forwardl endV ci the Apull, rod itil.. In;thisrnannei, each rotation `ci the'cainy it a'ctuateetli'erock arm Het tofpulll forwardthe pull rod lt'dandfcaueetheiclogsmi toradvance thereepeetive selectorfvvheelsv oneste?. Each step is representedbS/'xthe length o, aY toothpl lill; and; bythe .spacing betweencenters ,of the pins it; In this manner appin it lwhich has: been pre viously set by; its i respective; setting f solenoid 'i2' ieadvancezi stepr by' step iny eynclnfoniemv with movementr ci the conveyorychains until it a'ctnateathe-respective switch if.: eothat the re sjoeotive crate'C orother package and loaded into theyselected railroad car i5. ritter: tlievcarn Zt :has disengagedthe .roller lli, a spring tllgworkng, against a stop lit on; the pull rod EM, and,againstoneoftheguides litt serves to` returnthepull rod andnitedogs iti to the initialposition; shcwn'nl Fig; 3.

ln orderi that the; pinslt, after they' have functioned to operate theirl respective switches yxnaybe returned: tovyinitial position preparatory for a subsequent setting hy the respective setting solenoids '52; returnV arms liti' are provided, theuppel'endfof each lill being secured toan appropriate adjacent "i the portion of framework, which may be that to which the guides itil yare: attached. The lower portionl of each:arm` llt has acam section; i iiowhich projectsfinto the path of the revolving pins la and 'forces them bachiroin their set operative tions to their initial inoperative positions.

With respect to the ejector mechanisms 2li, when a switch 2li cna respective someten-wheel tallas been actuatedhy a correpending .set pi til, and thcrespective'ejector solenoid l5 there* byfenergizecl through the closing of the switch Zlgtheair valve 'it (Fig. il) is'actuated lov means of a' lever arno i appropriately pivotecl at mi on any adjacent portion of framework 222, the lever arzrl4 l2@ being in" turn actuated by a solenoicl" core lZil of the respective solenoid l5. Under such operation, the swinging end of the lever arm me moves a valveplunger 52? projecting'into the air valve lll. Air feed lines l2t,

which: extend fromr the air valve 'it to correl r sponding' endsof a cylinder i2?, are thus selectively supplied with air under pressure, to move a piston (notshown) which controls movement of a pieton rod ll connected with an ejector bar its? carryingv at its uppe' end an ejector head i3? and,` having its. lower end. mounted upon an adjacent standard l oi the framework ythrough the medium of appropriate pivot means E33. The connection of the piston rod i253 Ywith the'ejector oar I3@ is preferably a pivotal connection lili, andthe opposite end oi the cylinder l2? is similarly mounteclbya pivotal` connection 43E' upon an adjacent standard it of the vframework;`

By the above means, as a valve` 'et is actuated by thel respective solenoid l5 air iscorrespondingly introduced' into the respective cylinder 52's' and theejector bar i3@ and itshead E32 moved: from the-full line position ofFlgpS tothe broken line-position-v-toejectv a; crate. C' so that it is re;-v

Assumingthe conveyor chains t2 to bein oper ation, whereby the sprockets tl and 35 aredriven and `the gears 3? on the sprockets` 35 drive the gears 38' which in turn drive the-shaft .it and the canas it to actuate thebell cranks 4t2; lland the frame members fit, the shalt t@ also driving the cam to operate the rocker arm it of the pull rod it@ for .etephy step advancement of the selector-wheels through the dogsl lill Working on. the teeth ttt, when the operator receives a crate C from the feed conveyor 3c and makes his car selection, he then pushes the respective posh button and placesv thel crate onfth'e conveyor chains 3E. Therespective pushbutton 2li sets in operation controls for various electrically operated-.parts above described, the operation of the system -coing accormolishedV as indicated in: the Wiring shown in Fig; 11'. Fig: li. indicates four units respectively controlled by four puch buttons 2l' governing mechanisms for unloading selected crates into four freightcars iii selectively. The following description vvill` refer to a singleunit only'and the various devices of which it is composed.

The selected push button 2l having been de the switch' the switch box 52S is closed: which completes the circuit from a main elec#- tric iced line it@ a' line lll leading` to,-l the solenoid and thence .to a return line ,ilf connected with a main return line which may be housed in the cable along with tllemain line "'lo'o the eolenoidlil is energized, its core E9e is actuated to more its contacter'loar` lil to close the switch indicated at lea for coni-- pleting a circuit through a line that leads; to the normally closed cirGnit-brealzingY switch. tt.' which, as aoove described, is adapted to hey opened the downward encusion of the vertical, trai/ieveroev frame il when' properly positionedA by a crate C, as indicated in 5. During-ite normally closed' position the switch, serves toi connect its line (see also Fig. t) with a, branch Silea of 'ie main feed line Thus, with thestvitch 'lilo closed. by reason of. actuationof the contact loa-rie, the circnitthrough the solenoidl @il ie maintained aiter the` push ,button 2l released; Thus, the solenoid re mains energized until somethingr else happensl to break; the circuit When'the contacter lo-ar is moved by -ie solenoid core 552e to close the switch lilo, it also closes tiie` switch "ith at opposite this switch lb connecting the contacter har oy a lead* to the pin setting Solenoid l2. Hor-fever, the solenoid in a circuit tliroirli a line with normally open circo making switch, 1 *hich also ie und the rcontrol of the cratenctliatecivertically moving .trarne 3i. The switch throughite iii e isadepted tertiaire:y a; cirrnit,` v ."l,v tlnpngh thelinef itt to the branch li et the nlamafeedl;

line |50. Such completion of the circuit through the switch B to energize the solenoid '|2 is effected by the action of the crate C under influence of the moving chain of the conveyor 32 to force the upper end of the vertical frame 3| to the left, that is toward the rear, as illustrated in Fig. 5. This brings the notches 55 in the upper end of the arms of the frame 3| into engagement with the nngers 55 on the upper ends of the side members 45, so that, on the next excursion of the members 45 under influence `of the cam 4B, the bell cranks 42, 44, and the vcircuit through the solenoid 'l2 which is thereby energized and causes its arm 82 to project the uppermost pin 14 `in the selector-wheel 25 into vthe projected or set position shown at the top `of Fig. 8. 4end of the mentioned member of the frame 3| At the end of its stroke, the lower strikes the projecting end of the switch arm et which actuates the circuit-breaking switch 66,

`thereby breaking the circuit through the line |54 and hence to the solenoid 55. Thereupon Vthe solenoid core 69a and the contacter bar 'l5 are returned to inoperative positions so as to break their switches ma and l'b. rIhis completely de-energizes the electrical system until such time as any push button 2l is actuated, or until a set pin 14 in the selector-wheel 25 reaches and engages its ejector switch 29.

When a pin 74, which has previously been set in projected position on its selector-wheel 25, `engages the roller 95 on the plunger Els. of its ejector controlling switch 29, the plunger 94 is depressed into the switch, thereby closing a line f| 50 which completes a circuit through the branch line |520'J to the ejector controlling solenoid 15 which is connected to the main return line |52 through a branch line ISI. The solenoid l5 then causes actuation of the air valve "i5 to control the passage of air under pressure to the cylinder I2? which actuates the ejector head |32 to eject the'crate C from the conveyor chains 52, and deposit it on the unloading conveyor 2|, as hereinbefore indicated. When the respec tive pin 14 has passed beyond the roller 95 on the plunger 54 of the respective ejector con trolling switch 29, the plunger 54 returns to break the circuit to the solenoid 'i5 so that air controlling means in the air valve 16 is returned `(by suitable spring means or the like not shown) and the ejector bar |38 and its ejector head |32 are returned to the starting position shown in full lines` Fig. 9.

As previously described, the rotation of the shaft 39 by the sprockets 35 and the gears 3l and 3B drives the cam 2S as well as the cams 4B, so that the rocker arm It@ is caused to actuate the pull rod |54 whereby the dogs |5| engage` the selector-wheel teeth |55 and advance all of the selector-wheels step by step. TEach time a selector pin '|4 which has been set in projected position engages and passes the roller t5 of its ejector control switch 25, the ejector head |32 of the respective ejector mechanism 25 is actuated. As the projected pins i4, which have performed their function, approach the starting point, they are returned to their starting position by the cam-like end iic of the return arm l5 which is provided for each of the selector-wheels 25.

; Where there is no crate C in position upon the chains 32 and against the upper end ofthe vertical frame 3|, each operation of the cam 45 for movement ofthe bell cranks 42, 44rnerely causes an excursion of the side members 45 in a vertical path without other eiect, and the selector-wheels 25 are advanced a corresponding notch by the cam 25. The crates already upon the conveyor chains 32 will continue to move along the conveyor structure I3 toward their points of discharge.

Should a crate C have been placed upon the conveyor and have actuated the upper end of the frame 3| to cause it to be drawn downward out of the path of the crate by the next excursion of the side members 45, without the operators having pressed any one of the push buttons 2T, such crate will pass to the far end of the conveyor I8 beyond the freight cars I5, and be discharged at said far end without having been loaded into any of the cars. In this manner, crates which in the operators opinion are not acceptable for loading into any car may be discarded. However, if it be desired that every crate is to be unloaded into some car, and it is required to protect against any crates passing the trip mechanism 3U without a selection having been made 'by an appropriate button 2l, a slight modication may be employed which is illustrated in Fig. 7. This consists in providing a control for the bell crank arm 44 so that it will not be actuated suciently to pull down the frame 3| unless a selection has been made through an appropriate push button 2l. Here, the forward end of an arm 244, which corresponds generally with the bell crank arm 44 of the other form, extends forward of a pivot 243, by which it is mounted upon the adjacent standard |9, to provide a portion 244:1. which cooperates with a forwardly extending portion 242er of an arm 242 which corresponds with the bell crank arm 42 of the other form. Between the ends of these arms there is secured a solenoid 245 which iscut into the circuit of each push button 21 so that, if a push button 2'| is not pressed, the solenoid 245 is not energized. On the other hand, when a push button 2'| is depressed, the solenoid 245 is energized to draw the two arm portions 242g and 244:1 together, so that when the cam 45 lifts the rearward end of the arm 242 it causes the rearward end of the arm 244 to be lifted high enough to elevate the side members 45 high enough for the lingers at the upper ends thereof to be received in the notches 55. On the other hand, if the solenoid 245 is not energized, the rearward end of the arm 242 normally is held at such a high position that its elevation by the cam 40 does not elevate the rearward end of the arm 244 sufficiently high for the ngers 55 to be received in the notches. Under such circumstances the frame 3| will not be drawn downward when the side members 45 are drawn downward by the springs 46, and the chains 52 slide under the crate, as they do in every `case 'before the frame 3| is actuated to release the crate. Any appropriate relay arrangement may be employed in conjunction with the solenoid 245 to maintain its energized condition for a sufficient time to permit actuation by the cam 4D, any correspending circuit beingbroken at the end of the cycle, as when the switch 55 acts to break its respective circuit. Such a relation is indicated in Fig. 1l where the solenoid 245 is -connected into the line a. Thus, until a button 2'| is pressed to actuate the contact bar 'I0 andenergize the circuit tothe Solenoid 12,.the.so1enoid 245m-` means for rotating said wheels and operating said conveyor in synchronism; a plurality of settable means on each of said selector Wheels adapted to be selectively set in operative position; a plurality of setting devices respectively provided for said selector wheels in, relationship to set said means to be set on said selector wheels; means for selectively actuating said setting devices; electric switch means adjustably mounted at the axis of each selector wheel and adjustable in an arc about said axis, each electric switch means having an actuable member disposed in the path of set means on the respective selector wheel, whereby such set means causes actuation of the respective switch means upon sufficient rotation of its selector wheel; and means operatively connected with cach switch means for efecting actuation of the respective discharge devices.

9. A conveyor system including in combination: conveyor means for advancing articles to be selectively discharged therefrom at a plurality of predetermined stations therealong; selector devices for respectively determining at which station discharge of articles will occur; plural settable means on each selector device; setting means tor each selector device to set respective settable means selectively; a plurality of discharge means along said conveyor means at the respective stations; means adjacent said conveyor `means in the path of an article on said conveyor and actuable by such article; and means connecting said article actuable means with said setting means for controlling actuation of said setting means, each selector device including a wheel carrying its settable means adjacent its periphery, a shaft upon which said wheel is rotatably mounted, switch means held in relatively fixed position on the respective shaft to engage with respective settable means when set for :actuation of said switch means by such set means, and means connecting the respective switch means with the respective discharge means to opcrate the latter upon actuation of such switch means.

WALTER E. SAXE.

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